The SAAF Forum

QATAR AIRWAYS MIGHTY AT KSIA

Of the Big Three at Durban's King Shaka International Airport (KSIA), Qatar Airways has proved itself mighty since COVID.

Whereas both Emirates and Turkish Airlines have recovered nicely back to their pre-COVID annual arrival averages by 2023, there appears to have been no visible growth in either airlines' arrivals figures going forward. Neither, for that matter, has there been any increase in aircraft capacity. No apparent growth that is, except at Qatar Airways.

While Emirates has completed 365 annual arrivals from 2023 to 2025, this figure suggests no increase in passenger demand for them given known aircraft arrivals frequency and annual arrivals figures.

Turkish Airlines similarly flies the same average annual arrivals figure of around 208 as it has always flown since 2015 and flies the same frequency since then too. Again, no increase in market share.

While Qatar Airways also started out at four arrivals weekly in 2015 at KSIA, it now flies seven arrivals weekly and does so sustainably, suggesting that it has captured increased market share on this route.

For the same period of 2023 to 2025, this airline has seen annual arrivals figures ascend from 210 to 246 to 301 respectively, each of these figures representing all time local records for the airline!

Having lost a full month of arrivals due to the recent war with Iran by the Israeli/US coalition, one can't expect miracles for 2026. However, if the airline flies seven arrivals weekly for the full year of 2027, which at the time of writing would seem very likely, it will again spawn a new all-time annual arrivals record for it on the Durban route.

It seems that Qatar Airways knows no end to increase at Durban.

Make no mistake, Qatar Airways is doing majestically at King!

ENDS